Twenty years ago the idea of a digital nomad was virtually unheard of. Thanks to high speed internet and cheap laptops and smartphones there are many occupations that offer up the luxury of being able to work anywhere in the world. The gig economy is on the rise and new industries and services like AirBnb, Uber co-working spaces and social media make embracing the digital nomad life easier than ever.

Where to Live

Many digital nomads will pick a city or destination and hang out there anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. Destinations are chosen by their affordability, the amenities that are available and the cost of living somewhere short term. When you arrive in a new place many with find an AirBnB for their duration if they are there short term, for longer stays they will find a furnished short term apartment rental.

Where to Work

You can work anywhere with a reliable internet connection, if you’re coming from Canada and the US you’re used to having a good connection pretty much anywhere. When you are traveling you may find good connections a problem, although it is getting better. Starbucks have locations all over the world, but if you can find one nearby then you are going to have to find a café with a good connection. If you are in an urban area, no problem. If you plan on working while on the beach in Phuket…you’re going to run into problems. Be flexible and be prepared to have to move around the city to find a good connection.

Getting Around

When it comes to getting around digital nomads have to rely on public transportation and driving services. Learn how to read a bus/subway map and install the Uber app onto your phone. Cabs are available everywhere but be cautious when taking cabs, while affordable you could end up taking the “long route” to your destination. Be careful of pickpockets and thieves while you’re out and about, be cautious of the parts of town you travel to and don’t flaunt things like smartphones and jewelry. Every city will have a transportation guide for getting around, you can even find them on YouTube, here is an example for one in Chiang Mai.

How to Communicate

This is the tricky part. While English is the language of business and in a big city you will probably find a person or two who speaks your language, but it may not be the staff at the café where you are trying to work. There are translation apps that you can get on your phone to help you communicate, texting helps too. It wouldn’t hurt to learn a few phrases in the local language to help you get around. Don’t let language stop you from seeing the world.

One of the reasons that many people get into working in the digital space is the ability to work from anywhere. If you have a laptop and a WiFi connection you can write code, built website or do online marketing from almost anywhere in the world. Living abroad and traveling to exotic places is now easier than ever. Some cities are ideal for digital nomads, good connections, cheap accommodations and the right combination of weather, culture and beauty that keeps the digital nomad crowd returning. Let’s look at some of the best cities for digital nomads to visit and do their thing.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Head to the capital of Lithuania and check out this amazing city, you have the feel of old Europe with some pretty modern amenities thrown in. Check out Europe’s largest baroque Old Town, which is listed with UNESCO as a world heritage site. The city has a pretty big student populations with lots of bars, cafes and restaurants to check out. Lithuania has consistently ranked number one for having the fastest public WiFi so working won’t be a problem and it is cheap to live here, you can find a place for roughly $425USD per month.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai has been a hot spot for digital nomads for years. The weather is near perfect, amazing restaurants, and lots of other digital nomads here to connect with. The nightlife is thriving and it is dirt cheap to live here. You can find a fully furnished one bedroom apartment for less than $400USD per month, leaving you lots of disposable cash to do what you want.

Santiago, Chile

Not only does Chile have some of the best broadband in all of South America the thriving capital is a pretty cool place to hang out. There are busy shopping districts, edgy neighborhoods and when you’re not working there is plenty to do. Head off to the Andes and raft down some of the many rivers, go hiking in the Patagonian wilderness or head to the beach. You can get an internet connection at most of the cafes and most of the metro stations offer it free. You can rent a place in a decent neighborhood for around $500USD per month making it affordable.

Valencia, Spain

Valencia is an old European city that has been ruled by both the Romans and the Moors, rich in history. If history is your thing then you will love Old Town it is gorgeous. The city is a port city that used to be key to trading around the Mediterranean and today there are some beautiful beaches. You can get free WiFi at most coffee shops, so sip some espresso while you work. It has an excellent public transportation system allowing you to find cheap accommodations just outside the city, but if you want to run the beaches in the morning right from your front door it is still not that expensive.